Tommy Thomas’ stand on Sulu arbitration vindicated by conviction of Stampa

Scams, vindictiveness and selective persecution

The rogue arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa, who awarded the self-proclaimed “Sulu heirs” USD 14.92 billion in March 2022, in dubious circumstances has been convicted of contempt of court by a Spanish court and sentenced to six months jail and a ban on his arbitration license for 12 months.

Stampa and the art of arbitration scamming

This clears and vindicates former attorney general Tommy Thomas in his role in the Sulu affair. Thomas is currently the target of a vindictive law minister Azalina Othman Said, who is pursuing action against the former attorney general, calling for a Royal Commission concerning statements made in his book “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, published back in 2021.

This is just another case of the Madani government using lawfare to attack the opposition and critics of the government. The former attorney general is most probably being targeted because of his role in the investigation, charging, trial and conviction of former prime minister Najib Razak, under the former Pakatan Harapan administration led by Mahathir Mohamed.

The self-proclaimed heirs of the defunct Sulu Sultanate sought arbitration in Spain with the appointment of Stampa as arbitrator, in an authority with no valid jurisdiction over the claim of rent arrears, after Malaysia ceased an annual payment of RM 5,300 to the heirs of the defunct Sulu Sultanate in 2013.

Malaysia from the beginning refused to accept any valid jurisdiction over the court. The Spanish Government revoked Stampa’s authority to act as arbitrator at the end of 2021, where he moved to Paris to continue the hearing, where he made the award.

In February 2023, Petronas assets in Luxembourg court bailiffs issued seizure orders for assets belonging to Petronas, which brought blame upon Thomas by the Ismail Sabri government, who started a witch-hunt against the former attorney general. Former prime minister Ismail Sabri issued orders to then attorney general to investigate Thomas for sedition, breach of the Official Secrets Act, and abuse of power, in what itself can be construed as being direct interference in the due process of the law.

Azalina Othman Said using lawfare to attack the former attorney general

The Sulu arbitration award has finally been exposed for what it was, a set up scam by Stampa. The Madani government continues to use lawfare against the people it doesn’t like. This is a major abuse of power.

Subscribe Below: